The award system of Denmark, and especially the regulations for who is allowed to wear which medals, is one of great variation. The current honour-system has been created one step at a time since the 16th century. The system consists of royal orders and medals, official/governmental medals and some few private medals that have been approved by the monarch.
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Orders of chivalry Order of the Elephant RibbonName (English/Danish)Post-nominal abbreviationDate of creationDate of approvalAward CriteriaOrder of the ElephantElefantordenenR.E.Early 16th centuryCurrent form 1693Statutes changed 1958Awarded to members of the royal family and to major heads of state. (Danish)Lars Stevnsborg's book "Kongeriget Danmarks Medaljer, Ordner og Hæderstegn"
Order of the Dannebrog
RibbonName (English/Danish)Post-nominal abbreviationDate of creationDate of approvalAward Criteria Grand Commander S.Kmd 1671 Awarded to 6 members of the Danish royal family or royals with a close connection to the family. Grand Cross S.K. 1671 Awarded to Danish admirals, generals, supreme-court judges, ambassadors, and similar as a reward for very meritorious service and awarded to foreign ambassadors after three years of service if their country gives orders to foreign diplomats. Commander 1st Degree K1 1671 Awarded to Danish admirals, generals, supreme-court judges, ambassadors, and other governmental leaders as a retirement decoration and awarded to foreign chargés d affairs after three years of service if their country gives orders to foreign diplomats. Commander K 1671 Knight 1st Degree R1 1671 Knight R 1671Cross of Honour of the Order of the DannebrogDannebrogordenens HæderstegnD.Ht1808Awarded to Danish members of the Order of Dannebrog who have made themselves worthy of an extra decoration for either merits or life saving.
Medals Civil medals
RibbonName (English/Danish)Post-nominal abbreviationDate of creationDate of approvalAward CriteriaMedal of Merit in Gold with CrownFortjenstmedaljen i Guld med KroneF.M.1*16 May 1792This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as seen fit.Medal of Merit in GoldFortjenstmedaljen i GuldF.M.116 May 1792This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as seen fit.Medal of Merit in Silver with claspFortjenstmedaljen i Sølv med spændeF.M.2.M.SPÆNDE16 May 1792This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as seen fit.Medal of Merit in SilverFortjenstmedaljen i SølvF.M.2 16 May 1792This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as seen fit.Ingenio et ArtiIngenio et ArtiM.i.&a.31 August 1841Awarded to artists (musicians, painters, actors and scientists) who have done extremely noteworthy work.Royal Medal of Recompense in Gold with CrownDen Kongelige Belønningsmedalje i Guld med KroneB.M.1*4 September 1865This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as seen fit.Royal Medal of Recompense in GoldDen Kongelige Belønningsmedalje i GuldB.M.14 September 1865This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as seen fit.Royal Medal of Recompense in Silver with CrownDen Kongelige Belønningsmedalje i Sølv med KroneB.M.2*4 September 1865This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as seen fit.Royal Medal of Recompense in SilverDen Kongelige Belønningsmedalje i SølvB.M.24 September 1865This medal has no official statutes and may be awarded by the reigning monarch as seen fit.Medal for Noble DeedsMedaljen for Ædel DådM.f.æ.D.12 June 1793Awarded for life saving deeds, where the rescuer has put his own life at great risk in order to save another persons life.Minister of Justice's MedalJustitsministerens MedaljeJm.M.12 April 2019Awarded to Danes as well as foreigners who have made a particularly fearless and / or appreciative effort.Ministry of Justice Medal for Fallen in ServiceJustitsministeriets Medalje for Omkommet i TjenesteJum.M.F.12 April 2019Awarded to employees in the Ministry of Justice who have died as a result of a criminal offense in connection with the service.Ministry of Justice Medal for Wounded in ServiceJustitsministeriets Medalje for Sårede i TjenesteJum.M.S.12 April 2019Awarded to employees of the Ministry of Justice who have been seriously injured physically or mentally as a result of an offense in connection with the service.Ministry of Justice Medal for International ServiceJustitsministeriets Medalje for International IndsatsJum. M.I.T.12 April 2019Awarded to ministry staff, including police officers, who have made a deserving international effort.Danish Tourism Board Medal of HonorDanmarks Turistråds HæderstegnD.T.H.26 February 19638 March 1963Awarded to persons who have done a special effort to promote Danish tourism. Maximum 5 medals may be awarded each year, and only 2 of these may be awarded to Danes.Medal of Merit of the Greenlandic Home-RuleGrønlands Hjemmestyres Fortjenstmedalje(Greenlandic: Nersonaat)Grøn.Hjst.M.1 May 1989Awarded in gold or silver for meritious service for Greenland in fields such as public service, business, art or science.Website of the Greenlandish Home-rule
Uniformed Service decorations